Chapter 753: One's actions throughout life are judged by deeds, not by intentions

"Little White Spirit," Frog Daoist called out.

"Daoist!"

White Spirit responded casually from afar, still greedily inhaling the medicinal fragrance and spiritual qi emanating from the precious herbs, feeling the power of the Great Dao within becoming more active.

"Those two youngsters have gone on a long journey; it's time for us to rest and cultivate."

Frog Daoist waved his hand, walking with his hands behind his back along the path of the Spiritual Medicine Garden, looking wise and experienced. "If you want to break through to the Great Ascension stage, you'll need at least three thousand units of the power of the Great Dao."

"What! Three thousand?!"

White Spirit almost choked on the spiritual qi like water, exclaiming in shock, "Even if I swallowed an ancient beast, it wouldn't be enough. Three thousand units of the power of the Great Dao would place me on the list of prodigies of the Chaos Immortal Spirit List!"

"I have a cultivation technique from the White Spirit Clan, and with these thousand-year-old precious herbs, the improvement won't be small."

Frog Daoist snorted coldly, looking quite unimpressed. "When the time comes, I'll ask that Bull Daoist if he can spare a bit from his hoof. Without three thousand units of the power of the Great Dao, don't even think about reaching the Venerable realm."

"You!!"

Frog Daoist was so furious he croaked loudly, jumping up to slap White Spirit on the head. How could you be so different from your ancestors!

White Spirit swallowed a mouthful of saliva secretly, smiling sheepishly.

Frog Daoist shook his head and sighed, taking White Spirit to continue their work. They would have to wait for Bull Daoist to return before making further plans, not knowing where exactly he had gone.

...

In the Jade Canopy Forest Sea, within the Ancient City of True Spirits guarded by the six sacred lands, a magnificent city stood under the sky.

It was springtime in the region, with the bright sun hanging high, casting golden rays across the land.

The bells of the Ancient City of True Spirits echoed gently, as if narrating the passage of time and the unending rhythm of cultivation. This was the True Spirit Dao Sound, echoing through the heavens and earth, ringing three times daily.

Cultivators from myriad clans came and went beneath the city walls, many wearing elegant Daoist robes, exuding a sense of dignity and composure.

A young man dressed in coarse cloth and wearing a worn-out bamboo hat walked slowly into the city, his gaze calm, only glancing around briefly.

The streets and alleys of the Ancient City of True Spirits were filled with a harmonious atmosphere, with almost no trace of hostility.

The bell seemed to have the effect of cleansing the soul, causing many large ancient beasts to shrink their forms to enter the city, eyes filled with reverence.

"Truly an exotic land."

The young man smiled faintly, walking alone. The many ancient trees rooted in the void above the city cast down brilliant light, making it seem less like a city and more like a world belonging solely to the True Spirits.

Many great cultivating families had settled in the ancient city, but there were no legendary longevity families, as if the Ancient City of True Spirits was not worthy of their status.

There were few pavilions selling immortal resources on the streets, but there were an unusually large number of taverns and teahouses, with even Wild Ancient Beasts visiting, knowing how to use spirit stones to exchange for blood food.

The gambling stone culture was prevalent here, and auctions were even more popular.

Stories of overnight riches in the Wild Heaven Region were countless, such as stumbling upon a peerless spiritual herb or opening a stone to find a rare treasure...

Such things were naturally quickly converted into wealth, as holding onto treasures would attract many covetous eyes. Spirit stones were much safer, and selling them at auction was the proper way.

However, in recent months, many beings from distant places had come to the Ancient City of True Spirits, all wanting to witness the legendary Venerable's demeanor and see what a cultivator's heavenly tribulation was like.

The human Chu family in the ancient city was about to elevate a Tribulation Crossing Venerable!

Since they dared to announce the tribulation ceremony to the world, they must be at least ninety percent confident, not fearing any cultivators causing trouble, which would not be a wise move.

Elders at the late Great Ascension stage from the six sacred lands had already arrived, exuding a powerful deterrent, making their stance very clear.

On a cross street.

Two men with somewhat gloomy expressions walked down the street, a corner of a portrait occasionally peeking from their sleeves, seemingly searching for someone during this ceremony.

"Brother Fangshuo... the Jade Canopy Forest Sea is so vast, can we really find the person?"

A chubby man spoke in a low voice, his eyes filled with a sense of hopelessness. "Just searching one ten-thousandth of the area would exhaust our entire lives."

"I know."

The other man's eyes grew even gloomier; it was Yu Fangshuo. "But since we've taken on the task, we must do it well."

"But... I heard those few have already perished."

The chubby man's brow trembled slightly, finally speaking up. "Why do you insist on this? If we keep wandering the Jade Canopy Forest Sea and provoke some great danger, even we might face the threat of death."

"Heh."

Yu Fangshuo chuckled softly, glancing at a few faces in the distance. "Even if those few are gone, we must at least find the being in the portrait and inform them of the employer's situation. Since we've accepted the payment, how can we abandon the task halfway?"

"...You." The chubby man sighed deeply. Their cultivation had not advanced for years due to the search, making this endeavor seem rather foolish.

"My entire life, I, Yu Fangshuo, act based on deeds, not intentions, to become a person of stature in the future, not someone from the Ghost Face Clan that everyone wants to hunt down."

Yu Fangshuo's eyes shone with determination. "I never valued the reward; it's because I took on this task. Even if the employer has perished, I will visit his grave one day and tell him the task is complete!"

"If I can't even do this, it proves that I, Yu Fangshuo, am no more than this, only fit to mingle among cultivators at the Great Ascension stage. But my Dao heart will not be tainted, and I will continue on."

His unwavering words slowly emerged from his mouth, small yet like a thunderclap in the chubby man's mind. He slowly grasped Yu Fangshuo's arm, nodding heavily.

Other beings from different races could never understand how heavy Yu Fangshuo's words were for a member of the Ghost Face Clan.

He had always respected Yu Fangshuo, but today, his eyes held admiration. With such resolve and ambition, this generation of the Ghost Face Clan might truly have produced an extraordinary figure!

The path Yu Fangshuo walked was unique to the Ghost Face Clan, a true path to the heavens.

"Let's go; there's nothing here."

"Brother Fangshuo, I will always follow you."

"Good."

Yu Fangshuo nodded calmly, leading the chubby man forward with lowered heads, keeping a low profile.

Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept up, as if a ripple had been stirred in the world.

A figure in coarse clothing walked slowly, his steps as light as drifting clouds, bringing forth a subtle resonance like the breath of the earth.

The man's entire face was hidden in the shadow of the bamboo hat, his narrow eyes seemingly glinting with a faint light, like deep pools.

As they passed by, for a moment, time seemed to stand still, causing ripples in the heart, a strange sense of connection.

Yu Fangshuo and the chubby man halted their steps instantly, their eyes involuntarily twitching, turning sharply!

That figure seemed like a page from a storybook, blown away by the wind, leaving endless imagination and wonder, yet not lingering anywhere.

"An immortal Daoist master." The chubby man's eyes were filled with awe. How many years had it been... to feel a tremor in the Dao heart just by passing by, as if facing a great terror!

Yu Fangshuo squinted slightly, taking a deep breath. Though the figure was only a fleeting moment, it stirred endless waves in his heart, as if touching a long-sealed memory.

He couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity, like the silhouette of all beings, yet also a figure standing apart from the world, elusive.

"Brother Fangshuo." The chubby man's voice trembled, eager to leave quickly. "This person..."

"Seems like an old acquaintance."

Yu Fangshuo furrowed his brow, never believing in coincidences. "Let's leave this place; we might have been noticed. Avoid getting into danger."

"Alright!" The chubby man nodded heavily.

In an instant, the two merged into the sea of myriad clans, going their separate ways.

Yet Yu Fangshuo continued to scan faces, never forgetting the task in his heart...